Evening,

I was wondering if any of you green thumbs out there could help me. My friend has a blackberry bush and is willing to share some of it with me, the problem being I don't know how to successfully transplant part of the bush while leaving the rest intact. I have some gardening experience, but its mostly with vegetables and geraniums.

Any insight would help! Thanks!

There are three ways propagation can be accomplished. Before we get to that you need to know a couple things. While the blackberry bush (or cane) is very hearty, it does require some care if you want large juicy fruit. Actually this is good timing to prepare for the addition to your garden.

Find the place you want to plant your new addition. The soil needs to be freshened up and prepared. Dig a hole about 12 inch diameter and about 1 ½ to 2 feet deep. If you have a lot of clay in your soil, be sure to chop it up very small might even remove some of it. You will need to mix the reaming soil with a lot of organic material. I always had a compost pile in my yard but if you dont, start one now and it will be ready to use before you plant your new cane next spring. Otherwise you can buy some good compost. For tips on composting just look on the internet.

Now for the propagation. Remember that a new propagation will not yield any fruit the first season, the fruit develops from last years growth. I have seen cane divided from the root of an older bush but it’s a lot of work and it both may die or the original my loose this years growth and be fruitless next year as well.

You can also take a clipping and root it in water. Start at the tip of one of this years new growth and go down about 10 to 12 inches – make sure that you cut on an angle and that near the cut is new growth. Stick the cut end into water and add some root developer. About a third of the sprig should be in the water – do not let the water line get to far down. The root developer is expensive and once again there is a chance you will not be successful (though it usually works).

Here is the BEST way to get a new plantling. Find a new nice healthy long new summer growth from the original bush. Pull the tip down to the ground, dig a hole, a few inches deep, and bury the tip a few inches down. You can put some rocks around and on top to hold it down but not a brick. You want to be able to water it. After about a month the tip should be rooting and the rocks can be removed. Let it grow like this until the spring. Then cut from the ground up about 12 to 16 inches. When you dig up the rotted area be careful to dig wide enough and deep enough not to disturb the new root system – it’s a small plant, so we’re not talking about a great bit hole.

Then plant is in its freshly prepared new home. DO NOT PRUNE the bush after the first season, this is the growth that will produce your fruit the following year.

However, every year after fruit develops, you will need to prune – by cutting down the growth that produced fruit that year, and leaving the new growth. When you prune, cut a couple inches above the ground.

Remember to mulch (or freshen up) around your cane every year and add fresh compost. You will have wonderful blackberries for many years.

PS - THIS WORKS GREAT FOR RASPBERRIES AS WELL.

Thank you so much! You've really helped me out.

Berries!

Oh ... sorry. I thought this was about a new model BlackBerry ... you know, like the 'Bold' ... just seemed like they finally stumbled on the most naturally-matching name for their product ... the BlackBerry 'Bush' ... made sense at the time ... never mind ...

epic

Blackberries are so rich and delicious. Ahhh...the fragrance of a blackberry cobbler!
"Happy gardening"